Welcome to the official FamilyWize blog - filled with tips on how to save money at the pharmacy, budget for you and your family and live a healthy, happy life!

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

3 Must-Haves for a Budget-Friendly Home Gym

We all know that when you are trying to save
money, cooking dinner at home is more cost effective than eating out. The same
goes for exercise! If you have the floor space, working out at home can save
you hundreds of dollars in gym memberships and class fees. While you could go
crazy spending money on equipment for your home gym – you don’t have to! We’ve
combed through the top fitness websites to identify the three core components
you need to build a home gym on a budget:

1. Floor Protection

There is a reason that all gyms have rubber
flooring. All of the experts agree that proper, padded floor protection is
safer for you, safer for your floors, and safer for your equipment. Check out Amazon for a variety of reasonably priced options or watch for a sale at your
local sporting goods store. Depending on your square footage, you might be able
to get away with something as simple as a heavyweight yoga mat.

2. Cardio Tools

Even if you plan on only doing strength workouts
at home, most fitness experts recommend a short warm-up to get your heart
pumping. And, while you can run or walk outdoors 90 percent of the time, having
some strategy for indoor cardio is a smart move for those rainy or cold days.
If you don’t want to invest in an expensive cardio machine, a jump rope is a
quick and easy solution. Cheap and simple to use, a jump rope takes up almost
no space and can help you to quickly warm-up at the beginning of your workout.

3. Strength Tools

This is where it is easy to get overwhelmed.
Start by taking stock of your goals and preferences. If you are new to working
out, it makes sense to make small investments first and establish regular
fitness habits before investing in a high-tech weight bench or power rack. A
“starter” strength set-up might include:

●Resistance bands – Mentioned in every resource
we consulted, they are often the first tool recommended for home-gym strength
training.

●Adjustable dumbbells – Arguably a small
investment, but Michael Mathews at MuscleForLife recommends adjustable dumbbells because they save space and are easier
to work with than more traditional plated dumbbells.